Promoting Peace Corps' 3rd Goal from Upstate New York Since 1981

Join us at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Albany on Wednesday, May 23rd from 7 – 9 pm as we share “Lessons Learned From Our Work In Africa”. The evening is designed as forum and workshop to bring together Capital District … Continue reading →

This post is intended for those who will be unable to attend our December 5th meeting in Poestenkill at 6pm. … We will be voting at our December meeting to donate to our nominated charities. If you are unable to attend … Continue reading →

Important deadline approaching regarding RPCV NENY’s annual charitable contributions: Every December the group votes on our annual charitable donations. This is a reminder that written nominations for our annual donations will be due by October 31st. If you would like … Continue reading →

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The RPCV NENY-sponsored Freedom From Fistula event on April 12th was a rousing success. The program included a speaker, film, patient testimonial, plus light food, and silent auction. The evening’s activities were well received and many of those who attended expressed how much they learned from the program and enjoyed the company. Through ticket sales and donations $6,362 was raised to prevent and treat obstetric fistula! The funds have been donated to the Freedom From Fistula Foundation (FFFF) to support the Fistula Centre in Lilongwe, Malawi.

RPCV-NENY’s original goal for this fundraiser was to sell fifty tickets and raise $1300. We underestimated the incredible generosity and heart of the greater northeastern New York region, and our families and friends across the country. We sold over seventy tickets and more than quadrupled our fundraising target donation. In addition, small businesses in the region and many individuals were contributors to our silent auction, which helped raise significant funds.

We wish to extend a special thanks to the congregation of Hamilton Union Presbyterian Church in Guilderland for the use of their facilities and their support.

The FFFF will use the funds for surgeries to restore a woman to health, life, and a future. Each surgery costs $500. They will also be used to support the Patient Ambassador Program at the Malawi Fistula Centre. The Patient Ambassador Program trains former fistula patients to be outreach ambassadors in remote areas of Malawi. The ambassadors identify women suffering from fistula and bring them into the center for surgery. The ambassadors also help prevent fistula by encouraging pregnant women to get to medical facilities in time to deliver with medical assistance. A portion of the funds will enable the Center to purchase bikes for the ambassadors, to further their outreach.

This event would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of the steering committee that carried out the myriad required tasks over the course of several months. Quite a community was built in a short amount of time. We were also fortunate to have been able to use the blueprint of the successful 2014

RPCV NENY-sponsored Ebola event and the group now has significant “event” experience.

We are planning to create a package that documents our process and products so that other groups that want to undertake an awareness and fund raising event can be provided the tools and procedures that worked so well for us…without having to reinvent the wheel. We will distribute this how-to package to the Freedom From Fistula Foundation, and will also provide it to the National Peace Corps Association for the benefit of other RPCV groups.

~Courtesy of Becky Raymond

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The group received a thank you message from Margaret Moyo, Director of the Malawi Fistula Centre:

“My name is Margaret Moyo, Director, Fistula Care Center, Malawi. As a center we repair more than 350 mothers every year. We don’t just concentrate on the physical repair. We rehabilitate, empower and reintegrate these women back into society.

Our patient ambassador program is a great success. On a monthly basis we admit more than 16 mothers brought in by the Patient Ambassadors. We are very grateful for the continuing support you are giving to us.

Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Northeastern New York and The Helen M. Upton Center for Women’s Studies and the Office of Student Life at The Sage Colleges present a screening of: ddddddddd GIRL RISING ………….. “Girl Rising” tells the inspiring … Continue reading →

Attached below are the 2016 Financial Statement – which details all of our income and expenses during FY 2016 – and the Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2017. The 2016 Financial Statement is for your review. The Proposed Budget for … Continue reading →

Happy Fall, everyone! It has been a while since our last happy hour and social gathering. To celebrate the start of the fall season and lucky number 13, the Social Events Committee* of RPCV-NENY is planning a happy hour … Continue reading →

On Friday, September 4th, 2015 four members of the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Northeastern NY met with Congressman Tonko in his downtown office. Topics of conversation included the Peace Corps budget/funding, the House Peace Corps Caucus, and House Bill … Continue reading →

One of the unique things of the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Northeastern New York is our monthly Potlucks. As you probably know, on the first Tuesday of every month, returned Volunteers gather together at different locations in the Capital Region These potlucks not only serve as social gathering to reminisce and eat, but also, as informative meetings of upcoming fundraising events, community activities, and learning experiences. This particular potluck, we met up at the sweet Saratoga National Historical Park with Superintendent, Amy Bracewell. Presentation topics included history of the National Park Service and then question and answer. To round up, a rainbow joined us at the event.

After much ado and much delay (sorry about that) here are the results from the 2016 RPCV NENY Membership Survey. Those of you who were able to attend our April meeting received these results and the presentation attached, but for those of you who weren’t they are here below. If you have any questions, please email me at rpcvneny@gmail.com.

The Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) of Northeastern New York will host a picnic in Johnsburg, NY, on Saturday, September 10th starting at noon. The gathering is an effort to reach out to those RPCVs residing in Glens Falls, … Continue reading →

It’s that wonderful time once again! Mark your calendars for our Annual RPCV NENY Summer Picnic! Bob Crowley has once again offered to host us in the backyard of his beautiful home in Poestenkill, NY. The picnic will be held on Saturday, July 16thbeginning at 2pm and ending whenever people decide to pack it up.

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Who can come:

-EVERYONE! This is a no holds barred get together. Bring your family, friends, casual acquaintances, bring literally anyone you can think of to this picnic. All are welcome!

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What to bring:

– A dish or beverage to share

– A bathing suit if you want to swim in the pool

– Maybe some extra chairs, just to be safe

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Where to go:

Bob’s house is located at 10 Plank Rd., Poestenkill, NY 12140. Parking is available in Bob’s driveway and across the street at the Post Office, which is closed on Saturday afternoons. If you park at the Post Office, just make sure that you park in an official spot and not block the loading dock, because a truck will be coming by to drop off mail.

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Note: this picnic will be in lieu of our regular July meeting, so we will not have a meeting the first Tuesday of July.

The Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Northeastern NY will be having a Yard Sale Fundraiser this FRIDAY, JUNE 17th and SATURDAY, JUNE 18th, rain or shine, from 9am* to 3pm. The Yard Sale will take place at 200 South Manning … Continue reading →